Rear end finisher and method of smoothing an outdoor surface

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a rear finisher for smoothing an outer surface, which is attached in the forward direction behind a device for outdoor preparation and particularly for snow piste preparation. In order to allow a uniform appearance of the piste surface, the rear finisher has a guide device, which is applied so that the material to be prepared is guided in front of the bottom of the rear finisher and subsequently smoothed thereby. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for smoothing an outdoor surface, in which the outer surface to be smoothed is smoothed by two different oscillating means guided one after another on the outdoor surface.

The present invention relates to a rear finisher for smoothing anoutdoor surface, which is attached in the forward direction behind adevice for outdoor preparation, particularly behind a device for snowpiste preparation. Furthermore, the present invention relates to amethod for smoothing an outdoor surface.

Outdoor surfaces for sport and recreation uses, for example, beachstrips and ski pistes, are prepared by special devices. The termpreparation is understood to include work such as loosening, compacting,screening, turning over, etc., of outdoor material. This work istypically made possible by devices such as mowers, rollers, vibratingplates. etc., which are moved for this purpose over the outdoor surfaceto be prepared. A homogeneous appearance of the prepared outdoor surfaceis desired. High requirements arc placed on ski pistes in this contextin particular, to ensure the safety of the skiers through a uniformpiste surface, for example. Therefore, a smoothing unit is typicallysituated behind the device for outdoor preparation, also referred to inshort in the following as a VGP. The term “smooth surface” refers inthis case both to planar outdoor surfaces and also the outdoor surfacesprovided with regular profiles which are typical in this context. Adevice composite made of VGP and downstream smoothing unit, disclosed,inter alia, in DE 29600905 U1, is attached behind a tractor in thetravel direction and moved over the outdoor surface. In particular,rolls and mats are used for smoothing the outdoor surface. The smoothingunit, referred to in the following as a rear finisher, directly adjoinsthe VGP.

Tractors and crawler vehicles are used to move the VGPs over the outdoorsurface, for example. The traveling tractors fling significantquantities of the outdoor material to be prepared to the rear onto thetop of the device composite made of VGP and rear finisher or over it asthey move forward, however, and this material lies loosely on thefreshly prepared outdoor surface. This effect is problematic in thepreparation of snow pistes, cross-country skiing course, fun parks, etc.in particular, since the piste surface, which is accordingly implementedunevenly, represents a significant risk of accidents for the skiers.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of specifying arear finisher which improves the uniform and reliable smoothing of anoutdoor surface. In addition, it is an object of the present inventionto specify a method for smoothing an outdoor surface.

The objects are achieved by a rear finisher and a method for smoothingan outdoor surface according to the independent claims. Advantageousrefinements are described in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, guide devices are attached to therear finisher, which receive the outdoor material pieces thrown up bythe tractor and/or fallen off of the rear of the VGP and guide them infront of the bottom of the rear finisher. Guide devices of this typeare, for example, grooves, channels, or recesses.

A gap is preferably implemented between the VGP and the rear finisher,which runs transversely to the forward direction of the VGP and alongthe entire width and is delimited at the rear by a guide plate. This gapallows thrown-up outdoor material to fall back to the outdoor surfacebehind the VGP and before the guide plate and/or to be conducted by theguide plate in front of the bottom of the rear finisher and subsequentlybe incorporated by the trailing rear finisher into the outdoor surface.Because the thrown-up outdoor material falls back to the outdoor surfacebefore the rear finisher has smoothed the outdoor surface, it is ensuredthat loose outdoor material pieces no longer lie behind the devicecomposite made of VGP and rear finisher on the outdoor surface, For thispurpose, the gap width, i.e. the minimum distance between the VGP andthe rear finisher, is dimensioned in such a way that the outdoormaterial clumps do not jam between the rear finisher and the VGP.Furthermore, the gap is implemented as V-shaped and/or funnel-shaped bythe guide plate. Through this special arrangement, the possible capturewidth of the gap for catching outdoor material is significantlyincreased without enlarging the distance between the rear finisheritself and the VGP. The capture width is expediently dimensioned in sucha way that all thrown-up outdoor material pieces arc caught.

In addition, the guide plate may be designed in such a way that theupper edge of the guide plate projects beyond the surface of the VGP.Through an arrangement of this type, the catching task of the guideplate is strengthened further, since even outdoor material pieces flungup very high impact against the guide wall and are conducted into thegap.

In addition to a guide unit, the rear finisher also has at least onesmoothing means, preferably a compaction plate. A compaction plate ofthis type extends along the gap and is slanted diagonally downward atthe rear. The compaction plate preferably also terminates flush with theguide plate. The lateral edges of the guide plate in the forwarddirection and the surface of the outdoor run together to a point in therear. Outdoor material pieces falling down from the surface of the VGPmay thus he engaged by the bottom of the compaction plate during aforward movement of the device composite, partially crushed, andcontinuously compacted more and more. The rear lower edge of thecompaction plate of the rear finisher typically rests on the outdoorsurface.

The rear finisher is preferably connected to the VGP. Preferably,support elements, such as support arms, connect the rear finisher to theVGP for the attachment of the rear finisher to a VGP. The gap widthbetween the guide plate and the VGP may be set through the length of thesupport elements. The rear finisher is connected to the VGP via at leastone, preferably two or more such support elements. A connection of therear finisher to the VGP via two or more support elements of this typehas the advantage that lateral wobbling of the rear finisher in theforward direction is prevented. This effect may be reinforced if atleast two support elements are situated diametrically opposite, one ineach of the two lateral boundary areas of the rear finisher. Inaddition, it is advantageous to connect the rear finisher elastically tothe VGP. The rear finisher is guided more evenly along the outdoorsurface by an elastic or spring-loaded connection, so that asignificantly more uniform appearance of the outdoor surface may beproduced. Suitable spring elements may be coiled springs or rubberdisks, for example, which are preferably positioned between the carrierelement and retention means attached to the rear finisher.

The rear finisher according to the present invention is particularlyprovided for combination with a vibration plate according to WO2004/053232 A1 as the VGP for care and preparation of snow pistes. Avibration-transmitting connection between the parts of the vibrationplate set into oscillation by the vibration exciter and the rearfinisher is advantageous in particular for the configuration described.This special embodiment allows the rear finisher to be set intooscillation intentionally using these vibrations, without a separatevibration exciter being necessary for the rear finisher.

In addition to undamped relaying of the vibrations of the vibrationplate to the rear finisher, damped transmission of vibrations from thevibration plate to the rear finisher is also possible. The targeted useand modification of the spring elements already cited suggests itself inparticular for this purpose. Through a systematic variation of thephysical characteristics of the means responsible for the oscillatingmounting of the rear finisher on the vibration plate, such as theelasticity of the spring elements, the vibrations resulting on the rearfinisher may be regulated and/or tailored to the vibrations of thevibration plate and, inter alia, set for the particular outdoorsubstrate.

It is also possible to provide the rear finisher with means which applyvibrations to the rear finisher independently of the VGP. This isparticularly advantageous when the VGP is a device which does notvibrate itself. For this purpose, all typical configurations aresuitable for vibration excitation in principle, such as eccentricvibration exciters. The vibration-generating means may be operated bysuitable autonomous drive devices on the rear finisher itself, or may beconnected via corresponding connections to drive devices of the VGP orthe tractor.

It is additionally possible to control the oscillation relationshipbetween the vibration plate and the rear finisher through ballastingelements, which are attached to the vibration plate and/or the rearfinisher. Any typical means such as weights, bulk good units, liquids,etc. are suitable for this purpose as ballasting means. Furthermore,special devices may be provided on the rear finisher, such as holes,troughs, rails, boxes, etc., which are used for receiving and/orattaching the ballasting elements.

In addition, the ballasting and/or the mounting capable of oscillationmay be selected in such a way that the rear finisher oscillates in itsnatural frequency. In this case, the vibrating rear finisher reaches itsmaximum amplitude, through which the surface action of the bottom of therear finisher may be significantly increased. The oscillation behaviorof the rear finisher may thus be influenced and regulated via acharacteristic of the mounting capable of oscillation, the springelements, and/or the ballasting of rear finisher and/or vibration plate.

The rear finisher is preferably attached pivotably to the VGP, in such away that the rear finisher may be folded down or up as needed. It isthus possible to operate the VGP without subsequent smoothing of theoutdoor surface by the rear finisher for the case in which the rearfinisher is folded up. In the folded-down position of the rear finisher,in contrast, the rear finisher is drawn behind the VGP over the outdoorsurface and finally causes a reliable and uniform smoothing. Folding therear finisher up and down may be performed manually for this purpose, ormay also be mediated via hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical aids.Furthermore, joints may be attached to the support elements to allow thepivotability of the rear finisher in relation to the VGP.

In order to enlarge the pivot radius of a rear finisher of this typehaving a height-extending guide plate, in addition, the upper part of anextending guide plate, also referred to as a catch strip in thefollowing, may be folded forward or to the rear, through which an areaof the guide plate angled to the rear and/or to the VGP is formed. Thecatch strip is typically at least parallel to the outdoor surface in thefolded-down state of the rear finisher, but expediently and preferablysituated running diagonally downward toward the gap, so that the outdoormaterial components incident on the catch strip in the forward directionof the VGP are guided by the catch strip toward the gap and falltherein. This configuration has the advantage that the pivot radius ofthe rear finisher is not restricted by the catch strip. The catch areaof the catch strip may thus be varied by the variation of the angle ofinclination between catch strip and guide plate and tailored to theparticular requirements. Comparably to the extending guide plate alreadycited, the inclined catch strip also allows an enlargement of the catcharea of flung-up outdoor material components. A catch strip of this typemay also be connected as a separate component to the guide plate in atypical way, such as welding, screwing, bolting gluing, etc.Furthermore, it is possible to provide an optional catch strip which maybe plugged or pushed onto the rear finisher.

The VGP carrying the rear finisher may typically be lifted by thetractor to allow transport over outdoor surfaces which are not to beprepared, for example. In this case, it is desirable that the rearfinisher also no longer has contact to the outdoor surface and/or doesnot have to be folded up separately each time. For this purpose, pivotlimiters are attached to the rear finisher and preferably to the supportelements, which limit uncontrolled folding down of the rear finisher.

The operating efficiency of the VGP is typically increased by a lateralarray of multiple VGPs, which are drawn together by a tractor. Becauseof the construction, flaws arise in the travel direction between theindividual VGPs, which interfere with a homogeneous appearance of theoutdoor surface. It has therefore been shown to be advantageous toattach the individual rear finishers offset to the VGPs and/or to varythe operating width of the rear finishers, i.e., the width of the arearunning transversely to the forward direction within which the outdoorsurface is processed, in comparison to the operating width of the VGPs.It suggests itself that the total operating width, i.e., the sum of theindividual operating widths, of the rear finisher be at least preciselyas large as the total operating width of the VGPs. The presence of acontinuous operating area of the rear finisher in the area of a flaw isdecisive for the configuration. The flaws resulting between theindividual VGPs are thus passed over and smoothed by a continuous faceof the particular corresponding rear finisher. Typically, two vibrationplates are provided with a total of three rear finishers for thispurpose, so that the middle rear finisher engages and equalizes theflaws resulting between the two vibration plates. For this purpose, ofcourse, other possible configurations and combinations are alsopossible. Thus, for example, a single rear finisher may alternatively beattached over the entire operating width of the VGPs.

Depending on the equipment of the rear finisher, the compaction plate,the guide plate, the catch strip, and the support strip of the rearfinisher are especially preferably produced from a single part bybending a metal sheet, for example. In addition to the especiallycost-effective production of a rear finisher of this type, additionalconnection points between individual plates and strips, such as weldseams or screws, may thus be dispensed with.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for smoothing an outdoorsurface, in which the outdoor surface to be smoothed is produced by twodifferently oscillating means guided one behind another on the outdoorsurface.

In the following, the present invention is explained further on thebasis of two exemplary embodiments illustrated in figures.

FIG. 1 shows a folded-down rear finisher having a profiled metal stripon a vibration plate (diagonal view from rear) according to a firstembodiment,

FIG. 2 shows a folded-up rear finisher having an elastomer mat on avibration plate (diagonal view from rear) according to a secondembodiment, and

FIG. 3 shows the folded-up rear finisher from FIG. 2 having an elastomermat on a vibration plate (diagonal view from front).

The first rear finisher 1 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a vibrationplate 2, which is particularly provided for preparing snow pistes,cross-country skiing courses, fun parks. etc. For this purpose, thevibration plate 2 is connected to a tractor (not shown here), typicallya snow groomer, via the mounting 3 to the rear of the snow groomer andis drawn thereby over the snow surface to be prepared. The arrowindicates the forward direction. In the embodiment shown, the top of thevibration plate 2 is closed by cover sheets and/or a cap. Furthermore, alaterally extending guide gap 4, implemented like a funnel, is providedbetween the rear finisher 1 attached transversely to the forwarddirection and the vibration plate 2, which extends from the upper edgeof the rear finisher 1 downward to the outdoor surface. Outdoor materialmay fall down from the top to the bottom through this guide gap 4.

Basically, the rear finisher 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises four adjoiningfunctional areas. The guide device of the rear finisher 1 is the guideplate 5 running transversely to the forward direction in the embodimentshown. The guide plate 5 guides outdoor material in front of the rearfinisher 1 to the outdoor surface, so that the outdoor material maysubsequently be engaged by the bottom of the rear finisher 1. The guideplate 5 of the rear finisher 1 is preferably situated in relation to therear wall of the vibration plate 2 in such a way that the guide gap 4 isimplemented in a funnel-shape or V-shape horizontally transversely tothe forward direction.

In order to further enlarge the catch area of the rear finisher 1, thefirst rear finisher 1 has a catch plate 6 running along the upper edgeof the guide plate 5, which significantly increases the efficiency ofthe rear finisher 1. Thus, outdoor material pieces which jump away tothe rear from the top 7 of the vibration plate 2 or are thrown uprelatively high by a tractor impact against the catch strip 6 situatedin the upper area of the rear finisher 1. In order that the outdoormaterial pieces caught by the catch strip 6 in the forward directionreach the guide gap 4, the catch strip 6 is inclined downward toward theguide gap 4 and terminates flush with the upper edge of the guide plate5.

A compaction plate 8 adjoins the bottom edge of the guide plate 5 towardthe snow piste surface, which drops downward to the rear to the snowpiste surface, so that the snow piste surface and the compaction plate 8run together to the rear and/or the vertical distance between the bottomof the compaction plate 8 and the snow piste surface is reduced oppositeto the forward direction. It is thus ensured that even coarser outdoormaterial pieces such as ice clumps do not remain continuously in theguide gap 4 and roll therein along the snow piste surface, but rathermay be engaged by the bottom of the compaction plate 8. These clumps aresubsequently squeezed further and crushed and finally essentiallyincorporated uniformly into the snow piste surface by the reduction ofthe vertical distance. The compaction plate 8 thus has the object, inaddition to the compacting and smoothing function, of crushing largeoutdoor material pieces by squeezing and/or rubbing.

In order to increase the resistance ability of a snow piste surface, aprofile is typically incorporated into the snow piste surface. To attachprofiling means of this type, the rear finisher 1 has a support strip 9,which adjoins the compaction plate 8 to the rear. The profiled metalstrip 10 is attached to the support strip 9 of the first rear finisher 1for this purpose in FIG. 1, while in FIGS. 2 and 3, in contrast, asecond embodiment of the rear finisher 1′ has a profiled elastomer mat11 on the rear finisher 1.

The support elements 12 are attached to the rear finisher 1 shown inFIG. 1 to fasten the first rear finisher 1 to the vibration plate 2,each two parallel support elements, which are situated congruent to oneanother in the forward direction, forming a fastening unit and the rearfinisher 1 from FIG. 1 being connected to the vibration plate 2 via twosuch fastening units. The two support elements 12 are connected at theirend at the vibration plate via a joint 13 to the vibration plate 2,which allows the rear finisher 1 to be folded up and down on thevibration plate 2. Furthermore, the support elements have extensions inthe direction of the vibration plate 2, which extend beyond the joint 13and stop at a rear, horizontally running edge. The stop 17 on thevibration plate the limits the pivot radius of the rear finisher.

Furthermore, in FIG. 1 the support elements 12 are connected to the rearfinisher 1 via rotationally-elastic disk-shaped spring elements 14,which are attached via two connection screws to retention means 15located on the rear finisher 1. The spring elements 14 comprise rubberdisks in this embodiment. Two retention means 15 are provided for eachfastening unit on the rear finisher 1. A spring element 14 is attachedto each retention element 15, in such a way that the area of thedisk-shaped spring elements 14 runs in the forward direction and therubber disks are situated coaxially to one another. A retention means 15is attached via two connection elements in each case to the outwardlyfacing circular faces of the spring elements 14, which are situated onstraight lines running through a center point of the circular face. Incontrast, the support elements 12 are attached to the two circular facesof the spring elements 14 facing toward one another, the connectionscrews of the support elements 12 being situated radially offset to theconnection screws of the retention means 15, so that the spring elements14 may transmit torsion forces arising to the rear finisher. Theconfiguration of the fastening unit shown transmits vibrations from thevibration plate 2 to the rear finisher 1 via the support elements 12 andspring elements 14 especially well. The rear finisher 1 shown is thusmounted on the vibration plate 2 so it is capable of oscillation.

FIG. 1 shows a detail of an intended device composite made of rearfinisher 1 and vibration plate 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown ofthe rear finisher 1, two vibration plates 2 are situated laterallyneighboring one another. In FIG. 1, only one of the two vibration plates2 is shown in each case for the sake of clarity. Only the lateral sidewall 2′ of the neighboring vibration plate is indicated. In addition, atotal of three rear finishers 1 according to the present invention areattached laterally neighboring one another in the forward direction tothe two vibration plates 2, of which only one rear finisher 1, the onelying outside on the right in the forward direction, again being shownin FIG. 1. The vibration plates 2 and the rear finisher 1 have theirdimensions designed so that the total operating width of the vibrationplates 2 running transversely to the forward direction essentiallycorresponds to the total operating width of the rear finishers 1 runningparallel thereto. Thus, for the embodiment shown, the operating width ofa single vibration plate is greater than the operating width of a singlerear finisher.

The “middle” rear finisher (not shown), which adjoins the rear finisher1 shown on the left in the forward direction, is therefore attached tothe two vibration plates 2 and passes over and smoothes the flaw on thesnow surface resulting because of the gap 16 between the two vibrationplates 2 required by the construction.

The second rear finisher 1′ shown in the folded-opposition on thevibration plate 2 in FIG. 2 has an elastomer mat 11, in contrast to theembodiment of the rear finisher 1 from FIG. 1. In this position, thevibration plate 2 may be used for piste preparation without rearfinisher, without the rear finisher 1′ previously having to bedismounted. To fold up the rear finisher 1′ on the vibration plate 2,levers 18 having springs for inclination setting are provided in theembodiment shown.

FIG. 3 shows the rear finisher 1′ shown in FIG. 2 in a diagonal viewfrom the front. In order to prevent damage to the rear of the vibrationplate 2 and/or to elements of the rear finisher 1′ as the rear finisher1′ is folded up, a stopper 19 attached in the middle of the metal stripis provided in the embodiment shown, which stops on the vibration plate2 as the rear finisher 1′ is raised. An alternative construction of thefastening units to FIG. 1 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The two supportelements 12 of a fastening unit each engage around the lateral outsidesof the retention means 15 running vertically in the forward direction onthe rear finisher 1′. Furthermore, a screw, which runs horizontallythrough the retention means 15 and the two support elements 12, isprovided for connection to the retention means 15 of the rear finisher1′.

1. A rear finisher for smoothing an outer surface, which is attached asan auxiliary device in the forward. direction behind a device foroutdoor preparation, particularly behind a device for snow pistepreparation, comprising: a guide device along a front side of thefinisher, which is placed so that the material to be prepared is guidedin front of the bottom of the rear finisher.
 2. The rear finisheraccording to claim 1, wherein the guide device is a guide plate.
 3. Therear finisher according to claim 1, wherein the guide device has a catchstrip.
 4. The rear finisher according to claim 1, wherein the rearfinisher is elastically connected to the device for outdoor preparation.5. The rear finisher according to claim 1, wherein the rear finisher ismounted on the device for outdoor preparation so it is capable ofoscillation.
 6. The rear finisher according to claim 5, wherein themounting capable of oscillation has a spring element.
 7. The rearfinisher according to claim 1, wherein the device for outdoorpreparation connected to the rear finisher is a vibration plate.
 8. Therear finisher according to claim 7, wherein the vibrations of thevibration plate are transmitted to the rear finisher by supportelements.
 9. The rear finisher according to claim 1, wherein the rearfinisher has means, which apply vibrations to the rear finisherindependently of the device for outdoor preparation.
 10. The rearfinisher according to claim 7, wherein the oscillations of the vibrationplate are transmitted damped to the rear finisher.
 11. The rear finisheraccording to claim 7, wherein the oscillation behavior of the rearfinisher is set by ballasting.
 12. The rear finisher according to claim7, wherein the oscillation behavior of the rear finisher is set bytuning the mounting capable of oscillation.
 13. The rear finisheraccording to claim 7, wherein the mounting capable of oscillation isselected so that the rear finisher oscillates in its natural frequency.14. The rear finisher according to claim 7, wherein the ballasting isselected so that the rear finisher oscillates in its natural frequency.15. A method for smoothing an outer surface, comprising: smoothing theoutdoor surface to be smoothed using two different oscillating meansguided one after another on the outdoor surface.